Staff Writer

WOOSTER -- "By the grace of God, I was there," said Ritchie Johnson, who was walking along North Bever Street early Tuesday morning when he heard what sounded like firecrackers.

He turned around, looked between two houses and saw fire at the three-story Victorian house located at 355 N. Buckeye St.

"I heard a woman yelling for help. I couldn't see her, there was so much smoke. She was saying she didn't know how to get out. I told her to break the window. Then I heard glass shatter. She jumped (from a second-story window) into my arms. I couldn't see her until she hit me."

Amelia Allen, 40, was burned on her hands. She was transported to Akron Children's Hospital burn unit before being discharged Wednesday.

"I might have saved someone's life, but I'm not looking for exposure," said Johnson, who continues to "relive it over and over in my mind."

"I've never been around something like that before. I've been shot before, but it's not like hearing screams from someone who could die," he said, adding he not only pulled Allen away from the burning building, but helped to alert firefighters someone remained inside.

Kyle Kelley, 20, died from smoke inhalation, according to preliminary autopsy reports. Patrick Coyne, 50, escaped without injury.

Wooster Police have preliminarily classified the fire an arson, but the Wooster Fire Department and the Division of State Fire Marshal have yet to announce a cause.

A May 2 fire that started on the back porch of the residence was ruled arson, said Police Chief Steve Glick, and the possibility the two fires are related is being investigated. Glick said two "persons of interest" have been identified.

On Wednesday, Johnson returned to the property, where he met Kelley's family, and "it broke me down."

"I know his dad. I can't even explain the feeling. I have a 21-year-old son of my own. It's something you can't understand until you go through it -- losing a child," Johnson said.

Firefighters arrived at the house at 12:48 a.m. to find a "heavy fire condition on the front porch and first floor," according to a press release issued by the Wooster Fire Department.

"The first arriving units immediately laddered the rear of the building to search for (Kelley who) was reported to be trapped on the second floor. The rescue crew located and removed (Kelley)," according to the release.

Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Firefighters initially fought the blaze from inside, entering through the front door. One dog was removed safely from the building.

Due to the construction of the wood-frame building, fire quickly spread to the upper floors through the walls, according to the release.

A downed power line presented a hazard to firefighters, and American Electric Power was called to cut its power, as well as power to the building, according to the release.

The American Red Cross provided assistance for occupants of the building.

Thirty firefighters from Wooster, with mutual aid from the Wooster Township Fire Department, battled the blaze, recording it out by 2:36 a.m.

Anyone with information about either fire at 355 N. Buckeye St. should call Lt. Robert Merillat at (330) 287-5730.
